Understanding Bluetooth and BLE and ESP32 BLE Proxies?

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Background: I have both SmartThings, and HomeAssistant running 200+ devices, and a bunch of integrations including OmniPool, Honeywell, Airthings, etc. Mostly Zwave but a few Zigbee in the mix as well. HA is running on a Raspberry Pi 4 for now.

When and why would I need a BLE proxy running on ESP32?

I do have a BLE pressure sensor that I’d like to connect up but it’s outdoors and I think outside the range of where my HA sits. I also have an presence tag I’m playing with to tell if the trash can is at the street or in the garage as well.

My understanding is I would need an ESP BLE Proxy to be near where those sensors are to pick up their telemetry?

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Yes, this is a usecase where bluetooth proxies would work.

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Thanks @fleskefjes. As I understand it then, I configure BLE PRoxy on ESPs along with wifi (or maybe a POE hat), but then do I need to define the sensors on the ESP as well or will the BLE devcies handle that?

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The proxy is defined in the esp device.

Once that’s done - think of it like nothing more than another Bluetooth endpoint near wherever. Then other integrations (like one called Bermuda) can just use it without needing to care if it’s a proxy or a direct attached Bluetooth radio.

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Thanks @NathanCu. So if I have multiple BLE Proxies throughout my location, how would I tell and or report on which devices are connected to which proxies?

From some reading is sounds like I could actually use this type setup to detect presence of things… but mostly I’m just curious if I can see that device X is connected to Proxy Y

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The other integrations do that. Like I said the proxy is just the antenna.

For instance Bermuda which I mentioned once installed it automatically uses the proxies you tell it to use and when it ‘sees’ a device it marks a specific entity with the area of the closest proxy… (not perfect but the best available right now a d it’s being updated regularly…)

So basically install proxy, then do not worry much more about them except - still working? Then, find integrations that say 'works with Bluetooth proxy (which at this point is most of them if they do Bluetooth or BLE)

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Thanks… so in theory… I have an ESP32 with 4 relays that I’ve already built for my pool equipment. Wifi connected. Inputs are a hardwired pressure sensor, and outputs are a couple of relays used to control some landscape lighting. I’ve also installed OTA, webserver, etc.

I also have a BLE pressure transducer on the filter. Now I’m thinking I could use the BLE proxy to read that? presently I can only read it with a phone app (as long as I’m near it). The vendor makes a Bluetooth router that I think I might be able to avoid having to purchase… (and learn along the way)

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If there is an integration that reads it via Bluetooth then chances are of you setup those esp32 to add Bluetooth proxy then it most likely will.

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To chime on on what Nathan said - I use the proxies for the MiFlora plant sensors (from Xiaomi). They get auto-discovered by HA like this:

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This is the most important part. If there is (and you have it installed, in the case of a custom integration), it will generally be auto-discovered. If not, then you’re out of luck unless you’re capable of making an integration for it.

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